Following the appointment of Ray Vara to president and CEO of Hawaii Pacific Health, the organization has promoted Martha Smith, Jen Chahanovich and Art Gladstone to chief executive officer (CEO) of their respective facilities: Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center and Straub Clinic & Hospital. Kathy Clark, current president and CEO of Wilcox Memorial Hospital has also been named CEO of Kauai Medical Clinic. The CEOs will be part of the newly restructured executive team and will report directly to Vara.
Martha Smith, CEO, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children
Martha Smith began her career with Hawaii Pacific Health in 1986 as director of respiratory care for Kapiolani Medical Center. In 2004, she was named chief operating officer for Kapiolani, overseeing the day-to-day operations for the state’s only maternity, newborn and pediatric specialty hospital. Kapiolani Medical Center is a 207 bed/66 bassinets facility with more than 1,500 employees and 600+ medical staff. Smith is a strong supporter of community groups that provide ancillary services to patients, ranging from the Ronald McDonald House to March of Dimes to Hospice Hawaii. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Smith currently serves as president of the Hawaii Pacific Chapter. She is a board member of Kapiolani Medical Specialists, a physician specialty group of Hawaii Pacific Health and currently serves as board chair. Smith also serves on the boards for Alohacare and Surgicare (ASC Pacific Ventures), and is a member of the Children’s Hospital Association Chief Executive Group.
Jen Chahanovich, CEO, Pali Momi Medical Center
Jen Chahanovich joined Hawaii Pacific Health in 2002 as director of respiratory therapy for Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. In 2004, she was named chief operating officer for Pali Momi Medical Center, a 128-bed acute care hospital serving the communities of West Oahu. Pali Momi Medical Center provides a wide array of services including an interventional cardiac catheterization lab, a new Women’s Center, bariatric program and the latest in medical technology including a da Vinci surgical robot suite and the island’s first 320- slice CT scanner. Chahanovich oversees more than 1,200 employees and 400+ physicians. Chahanovich is active on community and professional boards, having served as a past chair for Hospice Hawaii and as chair-elect of the American Heart Association Board. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Chahanovich is active with its Hawaii Pacific Chapter. She is the immediate past president of the chapter and in 2012, was named Health Care Administrator of the Year.
Art Gladstone, CEO, Straub Clinic & Hospital
Art Gladstone joined Hawaii Pacific Health in 1990 as a registered nurse at Pali Momi Medical Center. During his 23-year tenure, he has held several positions including chief nurse executive and became COO of Straub Clinic & Hospital in 2004. As CEO of Straub Clinic & Hospital, Gladstone oversees the fully integrated health network of a 159-bed hospital, more than 50 clinics and a visiting specialist program that brings specialized medical services to neighbor islands. Gladstone also oversees more than 350 physicians in 32 specialties including bone and joint, heart, cancer, internal medicine, family medicine and women’s health. Straub also is home to the Pacific Region’s only burn treatment center. Gladstone is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and has received several awards including the Healthcare Association of Hawaii’s Distinguished Service Award in 2012. He is a board member of several organizations: Pacific Region Arthritis Foundation, Positive Coaching Alliance Hawaii, Arthritis Foundation Hawaii Chapter, and the Hawaii State Center for Nursing. He also serves on the advisory committee for the Hawaii Pacific University Department of Nursing and the University of Hawaii at Manoa Nursing Department’s Dean Circle.
Kathy Clark, President and CEO of Wilcox Memorial Hospital, and CEO of Kauai Medical Clinic
Kathy Clark began her career with Hawaii Pacific Health in April 2005 as chief nurse executive for Wilcox Memorial Hospital. In September 2005, she was appointed president and CEO of the 72-bed acute care hospital located in Lihue. In addition to her current role, Clark was recently promoted to CEO of Kauai Medical Clinic, a physician specialty group of Hawaii Pacific Health. Wilcox Memorial Hospital is the island’s largest medical facility offering more than 22 medical specialties and a Level III Trauma Center (24-hour emergency room). Kauai Medical Clinic’s 90 physicians provide primary and specialty care via their four clinics in Lihue, Kapaa, Eleele and Koloa. Clark is active in the Kauai community, serving on a variety of boards including the American Red Cross Kauai Advisory Council, Kauai Economic Development Board and the Kauai Chamber of Commerce. Clark is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
“Our four hospitals are long-standing kamaaina organizations and I look forward to working with our CEOs to ensure that our dedication to providing quality health care with exceptional service carries into the future,” said Vara. “Collectively, Martha, Jen, Art and Kathy are a seasoned and tenured team with a strong commitment to our communities. That kind of leadership is invaluable as we move toward a more sustainable health care system for our state.”